The thing I love most about Cairo? Sorry, can't name just one...I LOVE my life here. Dave Ramsey, financial guru, says that one's ideal job blends one's skills and talents, passions and dreams, and experience into meaningful, fulfilling work. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian, says that the ideal job combines your skills and passions with work that helps bring more peace, love, and justice to our world. So true. I am blessed beyond measure to live the life I'm living, to do the work I'm doing, and I LOVE IT.
What do I DISLIKE most about Cairo? EASY - saying goodbye. Life here is so transient. And that's good, I suppose. It helps me to remember that in this world, I am a stranger, a pilgrim, and this place is not my home. But the transient nature of Cairo life means saying goodbye - ALOT. Life here is constantly changing, and people are constantly coming and going. We are created to live in community with each other, NOT to be lone rangers. Living in community means reaching out, loving, serving, being vulnerable, sharing life, even in a place as transient as Cairo. Living in community here is as important as living in community anywhere else. But opening your heart to people here inevitably means that a difficult goodbye is coming. The past 8 months have brought several such goodbyes. Though I miss the friendships that will no longer be such a daily part of my life, I am thankful for every precious friend to whom I've said goodbye. Each of them has shaped my life in particular ways, and therefore have become a part of who I am today. So despite the sadness of saying goodbye, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am who I am thanks to each precious friend whom I've had the privilege of knowing, and I look forward to every new friend that He will bring into my life, no matter how brief our acquaintance may be.
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you..."
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